SEIM Analytics and the OSCE:
Disclaimer: No text or finding expressed on this web platform has any direct connection to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). For election-related findings of the OSCE/ODIHR, please consult official reports.
Regarding the relationship to OSCE of SEIM Analytics, the following is to be stated:
Dr. Seim has a long-term commitment since 2007 in serving for OSCE and its institutions, like the Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights (ODIHR). Seim served as long-term election observer in 14 OSCE-ODIHR election observation missions in Southeast and Eastern Europe, Türkiye, and Central Asia, and short-term in 11 ODIHR missions. Go to SEIM Analytics election expert services.
Dr. Seim engaged directly with OSCE structures as hired advisor to the Norwegian OSCE-delegation in Vienna in 2021, being responsible for reporting to the Norwegian foreign ministry from the weekly meetings of the OSCE Permanent Council, and following ODIHR conferences and Forum for Security Cooperation, and the negotiations ahead of the Ministerial Council meeting in Stockholm on 2-3 December 2021. This was an intensive work period when the conflict in/about Ukraine escalated towards war, armed confrontations occurred in and around Nagorno-Karabakh, the political stalemates and tension continued in breakaway republics like Kosovo, Transnistria, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia, and human rights were trampled upon in Belarus, Crimea, and Central Asia.
SEIM Analytics is positioned and interested in participating in conducting thematic, strategic, OSCE-programme and/or OSCE-project evaluations in the thematic areas of OSCE’s work, in particular in the field of conflict prevention and resolution, democratization, human rights, elections, and national minorities. These fields corresponds with the key research fields and regions of specialization of SEIM Analytics, such as the contemporary history, elections, and politics of Southeast Europe with special emphasis on the break-up of Yugoslavia and the subsequent conflicts in Croatia, Bosnia, and Kosovo in the 1990s, and the regions post-war transition and democratization.
As a fieldwork-inclined microhistorian applying ethnographic methods, Seim can assess OSCEs post-conflict, democratization, and reconciliation projects, e.g. in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition, Ukraine and Moldova are prioritized regions for SEIM Analytics, following years of ODIHR work there during key elections (2009-10, 2014, 2015, 2019, 2023).
As a translator of Serbian/Croatian/Bosnian, Seim conducts interviews directly with actors and interlocutors in the field.
When navigating sensitive political environments and meeting politicians, including EU parliamentarians, government officials, administration, NGOs, and civil society during OSCE-ODIHR secondments, adhering to the key principles of impartiality, integrity, and objectivity is the key to success, both for gaining the trust of stakeholders and the ability to feed into team reports and mission reports with substantiated evidence. Independent analysis has contributed to a track-record of spot-on political prognoses and is the cornerstone in Dr. Seim’s academic research and SEIM Analytics’ professional engagements, which therefore are free from any conflict of interests.
The nature of OSCE/ODIHR and EU/EEAS long-term observer role, as formulated by SEIM: “In teams of two international observers alongside local assistants, the task as LTO is to be assessing the election according to national laws and international standards. It implies for weeks/months from the ground to be interviewing and communicating with election stakeholders, from political parties and candidates, NGOs, and media, to local government and election administration. It means analysing qualitative and quantitative data, following the elections campaign and election disputes, and preparing quality analytical reports which fed into the Election Observation Mission's preliminary and final report. Political assessments must be conducted in sensitive political environments based upon professional integrity, impartiality, and substantiated evidence.
There are considerable logistical/management tasks related to the role, like organizing and conducting briefings, guidance, and debriefings around election day/weekend for teams of 10-30 international observers, including EU parliamentarians. This includes organising accommodation and all logistics in line with security standards, like identifying and hiring interpreters and drivers for 5-15 teams. It is a complex work environment that requires efficient communication, collaborative skills, resilience, an intercultural sensitivity and flexibility, including how to handle and make positive use of OSCE-EOM field and media visibility. It is a role where one must unite academic and professional skills with more practical EOM tasks and a diplomatic approach.
Yet, it is also a very rewarding and fulfilling position, with privileged access to stakeholders and unique insights into political processes. The long-term presence in the assigned regions gives the opportunity to develop in-depth knowledge about local society and politics. In this capacity, SEIM has been briefing OSCE and Council of Europe parliamentarians and met with top-level politician, senators, governors, and ministers of the countries of deployment, hosted HoMs and even an OSCE PA vice-president (joining in on national TV, in Belarus). SEIMs election end reports have been distributed to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Usually SEIM was given capitals or the second/third biggest cities (or regions of special importance) in countries of deployment: E.g., Crimea/Simferopol 2009/10, Donetsk 2014, Dnipro 2019, Balti (twice), Mogilev, Sarajevo, Mostar, Nikšić, Bucharest, Bishkek, Samarkand, Samsun/Trabzon. This can be regarded as a quality stamp on SEIM’s work from ODIHR in Warsaw.
Evaluation quotes from OSCE/ODIHR and EU/EEAS on performances:
OSCE/ODIHR LEOM Romania 2025: “Seim proved to be a highly motivated, dedicated, flexible and competent observer, with excellent analytical and reporting skills."
EU/EEAS Sri Lanka 2024: “The reports were of exceptional quality and valuable (…) Seim’s analytical skills contributed to fostering consistently good reporting and a good team spirit, and his personality further enhanced the overall atmosphere of the mission.” (Excellent evaluation of Seim’s analyses, team cooperation, briefings, STO-deployment, etc., mostly graded "4" in 9 of 11 evaluation categories = very good, delivering more than expected/average.